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Imagine you’re in a company with 10 devices, all without an operating system, and you need to install an OS with some applications (e.g., Office) on them. The best approach is using Windows Deployment Services (WDS) to automate the deployment process.
Prerequisites
- PXE-enabled NIC – Each device must support Preboot Execution Environment (PXE).
- DHCP Server – Assigns IP addresses to diskless PCs.
- WDS Server – Hosts boot and install images.
- Sysprep Tool – Generalizes the OS image for unique SIDs.
Step-by-Step Deployment Process
1. Install and Configure WDS
- Open Server Manager → Add Roles and Features → Select Windows Deployment Services.
- Configure WDS:
WDSUTIL /Initialize-Server /Server:YourServerName /RemInst:"C:\RemoteInstall"
2. Add Boot and Install Images
- Boot Image (WinPE):
WDSUTIL /Add-Image /ImageFile:"boot.wim" /ImageType:Boot
- Install Image (Windows OS):
WDSUTIL /Add-Image /ImageFile:"install.wim" /ImageType:Install
3. Configure DHCP for PXE Boot
- Ensure Option 66 (Boot Server Host Name) and Option 67 (Bootfile Name) are set:
dhcpd.conf (Linux DHCP) option tftp-server-name "WDS_Server_IP"; option bootfile-name "boot\x64\wdsnbp.com";
4. Capture a Reference Image
- Install Windows & apps (e.g., Office) on a reference machine.
- Run Sysprep to generalize the image:
C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\Sysprep.exe /generalize /oobe /shutdown
- Boot into WinPE and capture the image:
dism /capture-image /imagefile:Z:\custom.wim /capturedir:C:\ /name:"Custom_Windows_Image"
5. Deploy to Multiple PCs
- Add the captured image to WDS:
WDSUTIL /Add-Image /ImageFile:"custom.wim" /ImageType:Install
- Boot diskless PCs via PXE and select the image.
You Should Know:
- Automate with MDT – Use Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) for advanced deployments.
- WinPE Commands – Useful for troubleshooting:
wpeutil reboot # Restart WinPE ipconfig /all # Check network settings net use Z: \Server\Share # Map network drive
- WDS Logs – Located in `C:\Windows\Debug\WDS` for troubleshooting.
What Undercode Say
Deploying Windows across multiple diskless PCs via WDS is efficient but requires proper DHCP, PXE, and Sysprep configurations. For large-scale deployments, integrating MDT or SCCM enhances automation. Always verify network stability and image integrity before deployment.
Expected Output:
- A fully automated Windows + Office deployment across multiple PCs.
- Reduced manual installation time.
- Centralized OS management via WDS.
Relevant Links:
References:
Reported By: Arian Immen – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
